Video Games

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he has had any discussions with his European counterparts on the adoption of a compulsory system for the classification of video games.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 13 November 2007
	I have had no such discussions. However, Baroness Scotland of Asthal, Lord Falconer of Thoroton and Joan Ryan represented the UK at the Justice and Home Affairs Council of the European Union held on 12 and 13 June where violent video games were discussed. A statement setting out the outcome of the council's discussions was laid in Parliament on 27 June.
	In the UK, there is a statutory system in place for games that feature gross violence and/or material of a sexual nature.

Departmental Expenditure

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what efficiency savings his Department was required to make as part of its Spending Review 2004 (SR04) targets; what efficiency projects have been undertaken in the Department in pursuit of those targets; on what date each was initiated; and how much each was predicted to contribute to the SR04 target.

Jonathan R Shaw: The projects that comprised DEFRA's efficiency portfolio are set out in our Efficiency Technical Note. This was published on the H M Treasury website in December 2005 at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/busplan/spending-review/pdf/efficiencynote-0511.pdf.
	Progress against our SR04 targets is reported in our departmental report. The most recent (2007) is at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/deprep/2007/2007-deptreport.pdf.
	We laid a copy of our departmental report before Parliament on 17 May 2007,  Official Report, column 45WS and placed copies in the House Library.

Ivory

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what methods of registration and licensing exist for importers, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers dealing in  (a) raw,  (b) semi-worked and  (c) worked ivory products, in accordance with the requirements of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Resolution Conf 10.10 (Rev. CoP14) on domestic ivory trade controls; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: EU regulations implementing CITES include no legal powers to register importers, manufacturers, wholesalers or retailers. Instead we have a system which controls the trade (i.e. movement) of ivory specimens through the issue of CITES permits. Each application is considered on its own merits.

Fuel Poverty: Stroud

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what percentage of pensioner householders were defined as being in fuel poverty in Stroud constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Malcolm Wicks: In 2003 the Fuel Poverty Indicator dataset (available online at http://www.fuelpoverty indicator.org.uk/) estimates that there are approximately 2,700 fuel poor households in Stroud. There is no split available for whether these are pensioner households or not.
	Nationally 47 per cent. of households that are fuel poor have a household compositions of "couple, no dependent child(ren), aged 60 or over" or "one person aged 60 or over". This data is available from the "Detailed Breakdown of Fuel Poverty in England in 2004; Version 1, April 2004" available online at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file29687.pdf
	There is no timeline data available

Small Businesses: Copeland

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many small businesses within Copeland have ceased trading within  (a) 12 months and  (b) three years of starting to trade in the last five years.

Stephen Timms: Data on the number of all small businesses that cease trading is not available.
	However, data on the number of businesses of all sizes that cease trading one and three years after registering for VAT are available. Due to low absolute numbers of businesses de-registering for VAT for Copeland local authority is combined with data for Barrow-in-Furness local authority to give a more robust estimate.
	The following tables show the number of businesses that de-registered for VAT within one and three years of registration, for Copeland local authority and Barrow-in-Furness local authority combined, by year of registration for the latest five years worth of available data.
	
		
			  The number of VAT de-registrations within one of registration, and the one year de-registration rate by registration year, in Barrow-in-Furness and Copeland combined 
			   Year of registration 
			   2000  2001  2002  2003  2004 
			 Number de-registering for VAT within one year 16 7 7 13 11 
			 De-registration rate(1) within one year (percentage) 9 5 4 4 5 
			 (1) Calculated as the proportion of those registering that de-register within the period.  Source: BERR analysis of VAT and survival rate data 
		
	
	
		
			  The number of VAT de-registrations within three years of registration, and the three year de-registration rate by registration year, in Barrow-in-Furness and Copeland combined 
			   Year of registration 
			   1998  1999  2000  2001  2002 
			 Number de-registering for VAT within three years 76 58 44 32 34 
			 De-registration rate(1) within three years (percentage) 36 29 25 22 19 
			 (1) Calculated as the proportion of those registering that de-register within the period.  Source: BERR analysis of VAT and survival rate data 
		
	
	VAT registration and de-registration data for 2006 will be published on 14( )November 2007. Survival data will not be produced again until 2009.
	Since the registration rate exceeded the de-registration rate throughout the period, the stock of VAT registered businesses in Copeland local authority rose by 9 per cent. between the start of 2001 and the start of 2006 and the stock for Copeland and Barrow-in-Furness combined rose by 7 per cent.
	VAT registrations do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which was £60,000 at the start of 2006. Similarly, businesses that de-register may not have closed. Only 1.9 million out of 4.5 million UK enterprises (41 per cent.) were registered for VAT at the start of 2006.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the average number of days of service personnel's rest and recreation mid-way through an operational tour which has been lost due to circumstances outside the control of the individual concerned in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: This information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, operational circumstances such, as medical evacuations do cause delays from time to time. Significant effort is made by the permanent joint head quarters and commanders in the theatres to ensure that delays experienced by personnel proceeding on their rest and recuperation are kept to a minimum.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many instances of damage to the axles and leaf springs to the Mastiff vehicle have been recorded by his Department in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan in (i) 2006 and (ii) 2007.

Bob Ainsworth: Records show that there have been no instances of damage of this type to Mastiff vehicle in Iraq over this period.
	Mastiff vehicles were first deployed to Afghanistan earlier this year. Since being deployed, there have been 10 instances of damage to the axles and leaf springs of that vehicle. An upgrade to the suspension system has now significantly reduced the number of incidents of damage.

Academies

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the length of the school day is in each academy school; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department does not collect this data.

Academies: Academic Year

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which academies have classes on  (a) weekends and  (b) school holidays; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department does not collect this data.

Schools: Fire Prevention

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the statement by the hon. Member for South Dorset in the adjournment debate on 1 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1180, on fire precautions (schools), what progress he has made in identifying the very low risk schools which do not need fire sprinklers installed; if he will detail the methodology he is using to determine risk; what very low risk schools he has already identified which do not need fire sprinklers installed; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department does not hold data on which schools do not have sprinklers installed. It is for local authorities to carry out the risk assessments. The risk assessment methodology is described in the risk assessment tools and in Building Bulletin 100.

Specialised Diplomas

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the operation of the proposed academic diplomas; how many separate subjects will have to be taught for these in respect of each diploma for those pupils above Key Stage 4; and what financial provision he proposes to make for the diplomas;
	(2)  what diplomas he intends to have in place by the years  (a) 2013 and  (b) 2015;
	(3)  what subjects will be studied by students taking the new diplomas in  (a) science,  (b) languages and  (c) humanities; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  subjects will be studied as part of the new diplomas in  (a) construction and the built environment,  (b) creative arts and media,  (c) engineering,  (d) information technology and  (e) society, health and development; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what plans he has to introduce the formal teaching of modern languages at an earlier stage in the schools system.

Jim Knight: By 2013 we will have 17 14-19 diplomas in place. We currently expect to have the same number in place by 2015.
	The policy statement attached to the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families' written ministerial statement of 23 October, set out our intention to establish a Diploma Development Partnership (DDP) to specify the content for each of the new diplomas, consulting with a wide range of partners and stakeholders. This will start work in the new year. In order to specify the design structure and principles within which this DDP will work, we have created an expert advisory group to work with us over the next few months to develop the DDP terms of reference.
	Students following any of the diploma programmes will have the opportunity to study a broad spectrum of topics relevant to their chosen sector, or area of study. The core of each diploma is the "Principal Learning" element. All students will also undertake a programme of generic learning which includes personal, learning and thinking skills and functional skills (in English, maths and information technology). diploma students will be able to personalise their learning by adding "Additional and Specialist Learning", which can develop depth and breadth of study. The personalisation of each student's learning programme is a key feature of the diploma structure.
	Curriculum guidance has been published for the first five diplomas, ahead of first teaching in September 2008. The full specifications for each of the first five lines of learning , accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, can be viewed on the National Database of Accredited Qualifications at:
	http://www.accreditedqualifications.org.uk/DiplomaCatalogue Selection.aspx
	Indicative levels of funding for 2008-11 for 14-19 learning, including diplomas, have been identified within the Government's comprehensive spending review (CSR). The details of the additional funds to be allocated for diplomas are being finalised as part of firming up precise allocations within the indicative settlement. We expect to be able to announce levels of funding available by the new year, well before the end of the 2007-08 financial year.

Truancy: Hampshire

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the level of truancy was by  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in local education authorities in (i) Hampshire, (ii) Southampton and (iii) Portsmouth in each year since 1997, broken down by sex; how many days were lost; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department does not maintain records of 'truancy'. Unauthorised absence is absence without leave from a teacher or other authorised representative of the school. This includes all unexplained or unjustified absences, such as lateness, holidays during term time not authorised by the school, absence where reason is not yet established and truancy.
	The available information is provided in the tables and relates to a selection of years between 1997/98 to 2005/06.
	The first year for which absence rates by gender are available is 2005/06. The coverage of this information is secondary schools only. Absence rates by gender for 2006/07 will be available in February 2008, and the scope will extend to also include primary schools.
	
		
			  Maintained primary and secondary schools( 1) : Percentage of half days missed 1997/98,1999/2000, 2001/02, 2003/04, Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton local authority areas 2004/05 
			   Primary schools  Secondary schools 
			   Percentage of half days missed:  Percentage of half days missed: 
			   Due to authorised absence  Due to authorised absence  Due to authorised absence  Due to authorised absence 
			  Hampshire local authority area 
			 1997/98 4.9 0.3 6.9 0.8 
			 1999/2000 4.5 0.3 6.6 0.8 
			 2001/02 4.7 0.4 7.0 1.1 
			 2003/04 4.5 0.3 6.4 1.1 
			 2004/05 4.7 0.3 6.2 1.2 
			  Southampton local authority area 
			 1997/98 6.0 0.9 7.9 1.1 
			 1999/2000 5.7 0.8 8.5 1.1 
			 2001/02 6.3 0.8 8.7 1.3 
			 2003/04 5.6 0.7 7.7 1.2 
			 2004/05 5.7 0.8 7.4 1.9 
			  Portsmouth local authority area 
			 1997/98 6.6 0.8 9.5 1.9 
			 1999/2000 5.4 0.8 8.4 1.8 
			 2001/02 5.4 0.7 9.4 1.6 
			 2003/04 5.1 0.8 8.2 1.9 
			 2004/05 5.2 0.8 7.5 1.8 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed.  Source: Survey of Absence in Schools 
		
	
	
		
			  Maintained secondary schools( 1) : Pupil absence by gender( 2 ) 2005/06 
			   Secondary schools 
			   Percentage of half days missed: 
			   D ue to authorised absence  D ue to unauthorised absence  D ue to overall absence 
			  Hampshire local authority area
			 Boys 6.45 1.41 7.86 
			 Girls 6.85 1.44 8.29 
			 Total 6.65 1.42 8.07 
			  Southampton local authority area
			 Boys 7.23 2.12 9.35 
			 Girls 7.35 1.93 9.28 
			 Total 7.29 2.02 9.31 
			  Portsmouth local authority area
			 Boys 7.92 2.15 10.07 
			 Girls 7.60 2.67 10.28 
			 Total 7.76 2.41 10.17 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes pupils aged five to 15. Excludes boarders.  Source:  School Census

Vocational Training

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make a statement on his Department's plans to place new duties on employers in relation to education and training for young people between the ages of 16 and 18 years.

Jim Knight: We will legislate through the Education and Skills Bill, announced in the Queen's Speech last week, to require all young people to continue in education or training until the age of 18, from 2015. There will be no duties on employers if they employ a 16 or 17-year-old for less than 20 hours a week, or if they provide accredited training. If they employ a young person for more than that, without training, the young person will need to provide evidence that they are in learning before they can start employment, and the employer will need to check this. The employer will also need to release the young person from work for the equivalent of a day each so that they can train elsewhere, and will not be required to pay them for this time.
	The Secretary of State and I published the document "Raising Expectations: staying in education and training post-16—From policy to legislation" on 5 November. This sets out our plans to raise the participation age and the aspects that require a change in the law. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Pay

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the total wage cost was of his Department's predecessor in 1997; and what it is expected to be for his Department in 2007.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) came into existence this year and we are, therefore, unable to provide a total wage costs back to 1997. We estimate that the total paybill outturn for DIUS in 2007-08 will be around £47million.

Victims: Compensation

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the purpose was of the internal audit of the operation of the victim's surcharge; whether magistrates were involved in the audit; and what conclusions have been reached.

Maria Eagle: The internal audit is being conducted as part of a 2007-08 annual audit programme. The purpose of the audit is to review the application and effectiveness, of procedures applied in magistrates' courts in relation to the processing and accounting of the victim's surcharge. Magistrates have not been directly involved in the audit. Court records are being examined to establish that the surcharge has been ordered in all appropriate cases and that all judicial cancellations of the surcharge are supported by sufficient and appropriate evidence. The internal audit is still in progress and no final conclusions have been reached. It is anticipated that the results of the internal audit will be reported in December.

Victims: Compensation

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much has been collected via the victim's surcharge since inception; where the funds raised are held; what plans there are for use of such funding; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: As at the end of September some £695,323 in receipts have been collected, since the victims surcharge, came into operation on 1 April 2007. Arrangements have been made in the impending winter supplementary estimates for the receipts in question to be appropriated in aid against the Ministry of Justice estimates.
	Money from the surcharge is being used to help fund organisations and schemes providing a range of emotional and practical support services to victims of crime and witnesses.

Border and Immigration Agency

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people the Border and Immigration Agency employs in  (a) Gloucestershire,  (b) the South West and  (c) Wales to ensure that foreign workers are employed legally.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 November 2007
	 The Border and Immigration Agency Wales and South West Region employs a total of approximately 350 staff in six offices in Cardiff, Swansea, Bristol, Poole, Plymouth and Mostyn (North Wales). In addition there are 21 police officers seconded to assist with enforcement operations. Enforcement officers carried out 286 illegal working operations in the region between April-October 2007. 221 of which were successful in terms of locating illegal foreign workers. In addition there are a total of 11 managed migration staff attached to the region who carry out work in relation to the points-based system for grading bona-fide employers. Further to this both intelligence and operational staff carry out visits to employers that are both educational and operational in that they instruct employers with regard to their obligations under the 1996 Immigration Act and obtain details of staff in order to carry out checks on their immigration status.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of freedom of information requests granted by her Department in 2006 made a full disclosure of the information or documents requested within the statutory 20 working days.

Liam Byrne: In 2006 there were 2,868 requests for information held. The Department held information in 1,785 cases. Responses to 796 of these requests resulted in information being disclosed in full and 79 per cent. of these were responded to within the statutory 20 working days. Further information on the Department's performance can be found in the Ministry of Justice's second annual report on the operation of the FOI Act in central Government 2006. This can be found at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/foi-annual-report-central-gov-2006.pdf
	a copy is also available in the Library.

Entry Clearances: Employment

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the likely change in the number of non-EU workers given leave to enter the UK as a result of the introduction of  (a) the points based system and  (b) the measures contained in Her Majesty's Gracious Speech; and over what timescale she expects such changes to take place.

Liam Byrne: We are introducing the points based system during 2008 and 2009 so that only those the UK needs can come to work or study. When we set the 'pass mark' we will take advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee on where in the economy migration can sensibly fill skills gaps, and the Migration Impacts Forum on the wider impacts of migration.

Freedom of Information

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many freedom of information requests her Department and its agencies received in the latest year for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 her Department turned down in the last year; and for what reasons.

Liam Byrne: The information requested was published in the Ministry of Justice's second annual report on the operation of the FOI Act in central Government 2006. This can be found at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/foi-annual-report-central-gov-2006.pdf
	a copy is also available in the Library.

Immigration Controls

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which elements of the Government's points based immigration system require further primary legislation; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 November 2007
	None. We are satisfied that existing primary legislation (including the UK Borders Act 2007) gives us all the powers we need to operate the PBS.

Immigration Controls: Asia

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the impact on  (a) Chinese and  (b) South Asia migrants of the new points-based system for migration, with particular reference to the need to recruit skilled and experienced staff.

Liam Byrne: No estimate has been made of the impact of the Points Based System (PBS) on Chinese and South Asia Migrants. One of the key objectives of the Points Based System is the better identifying and attracting of migrants that are of benefit to the United Kingdom, wherever they come from. Equality impact assessments will ensure there is no bias in the system. UKvisas are working through their posts in the region to communicate messages on PBS in a clear and timely fashion to ensure we do continue to attract migrants with the skills the UK needs.

Offenders: Deportation

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many foreign nationals released from prisons have  (a) been handed over to authorities in their country of origin,  (b) been released into the custody of the Immigration and Border Agency,  (c) been deported and  (d) been released and allowed to remain in the United Kingdom (i) in each of the last five years and (ii) in 2007 up to the most recent time for which data are available;
	(2)  what crimes were committed by foreign prisoners who have  (a) been handed over to authorities in their country of origin,  (b) been released into the custody of the Immigration and Border Agency,  (c) been deported and  (d) been released and allowed to remain in the United Kingdom in (i) each of the last five years and (ii) 2007 to date.

Liam Byrne: The information requested can be obtained only through the detailed examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost. The Chief Executive of the Border and Immigration Agency has written regularly to the Home Affairs Committee over the past 18 months providing the most robust and accurate data relating to foreign national prisoners. Copies of this correspondence is available in the Library of the House.

Departmental NDPBs

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the  (a) budget and  (b) remit is of each non-departmental public body sponsored by his Department; who the chairman is of each; and to what salary, including bonuses and expenses, each chairman is entitled.

Meg Munn: The following are the budgets and remit of each of the non- departmental public bodies (NDPB) sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO); who the chairman is of each; and to what salary, including bonuses and expenses, each chairman is entitled.
	 The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission
	The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission is the NDPB responsible for administering the Marshall Scholarship Scheme. The FCO funds this scheme almost entirely and is contributing £2.2 million this financial year.
	Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the UK. Scholars are selected each year to study either at graduate or occasionally undergraduate level at an UK institution in any field of study. Each scholarship is held for two years. As future leaders, with a lasting understanding of British society, Marshall Scholars strengthen the enduring relationship between the British and American peoples, their Governments and their institutions. The current chairman is Dr. Frances Dow. The role of chairman is unpaid, but she is entitled to claim travel expenses only.
	 The Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine (GHACPW)
	The Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine (GHACPW) has no budget and its operating costs are met by Government Hospitality, Protocol Directorate. The remit of the Committee, as defined in its Terms of Reference, is
	"to advise the Minister responsible for Government Hospitality on the maintenance of an appropriate standard of wine for use at Government functions. This entails advice, after tasting, on the purchase of wine, the exchange of wine if necessary, and the stocking of the Government Hospitality Cellar at Lancaster House."
	The GHACPW chairman is Sir David Wright GCMG LVO. The role of chairman is unpaid, but he is entitled to claim travel expenses to attend each of the four meetings per year.
	 BBC World Service (BBCWS)
	The FCO will provide grant in aid of £239.5 million to the BBCWS in financial year 2007-08. BBCWS' remit is to provide independent news and information to audiences around the world. Sir Michael Lyon is chairman of the BBC Trust. His salary, which is not funded by the FCO, is £140,000 per annum. Sir Michael was appointed on 1 May 2007 so no expenses were incurred last financial year. Out-of-pocket expenses necessarily incurred while on BBCWS business are reimbursed. Bonuses are not paid.
	 Wilton Park Advisory Council (WPAC)
	WPAC has no budget. WPAC's main responsibilities are to ensure that Wilton Park activities meet the highest academic standards and that it maintains its reputation as a centre of excellence. It also gives advice concerning the selection of conference themes, speakers and participants. The current chairman of WPAC is Dr. Farhan Nizami (from the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies). The role of chairman is unpaid, but he is entitled to claim travel expenses for attendance at the bi-annual meetings.
	 The British Council
	In 2007-08 the British Council's grant in aid budget from the FCO was £192,803,000. The purpose of the British Council is to build mutually beneficial relationships between people in the UK and other countries and to increase appreciation of the UK's creative ideas and achievements. The chairman of the British Council is my noble Friend the right hon. Lord Kinnock. The role of chairman is unpaid, but he is entitled to claim out-of-pocket expenses necessarily incurred while on British Council business.
	 The Great Britain China Centre (GBCC)
	The Great Britain China Centre (GBCC) receives a grant in aid of £300,000 from the FCO, which is drawn down quarterly. The remit of the GBCC is to promote closer economic, professional, cultural, and academic relations between Britain and China; and to encourage mutual knowledge and understanding. The chairman of the GBCC is Mr. Peter Batey, OBE. The role of chairman is unpaid, but he is entitled to claim travel expenses only.
	 The Foreign Compensation Commission (FCC)
	The Foreign Compensation Commission (FCC) is an independent tribunal formed by an Act of Parliament in the 1960s. The FCC has a budget of £52,000 per annum. However, last year this budget was underspent by £12,000, and this year it is expected to be underspent by £15,000. In both cases the money has been returned to central FCO funds before the mid point of the year. The FCC remit is to administer and pay out compensation to UK citizens who have had property expropriated by a foreign state. It takes action following an FCO-negotiated settlement with an expropriating state. In such instances, the Government normally agrees a lump sum settlement with the relevant state. It is the responsibility of the FCC to fairly distribute this lump sum between the various UK claimants, who could number in the thousands. The chairman of the FCC is Dr. John Barker. Dr. Barker works part time a few days a month. His fees are £469 per day. His total fees for the year are budgeted at £25,000.
	 The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD)
	The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) is a NDPB set up by the FCO in 1992. The WFD is funded primarily by an annual grant-in-aid from the FCO (£4.1 million for financial year 2006-07); it seeks further financial support from the private sector and other funding organisations. Its aim is to help establish and strengthen pluralist democratic institutions, particularly political parties, in countries where they are absent, of recent foundation, or in need of further encouragement and development. My hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, West (Mr. Bailey) has been chairman of the WFD since August 2005. The role of chairman is unpaid, but he is entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses incurred.
	 The Diplomatic Service Appeal Board (DSAB)
	The Diplomatic Service Appeal Board (DSAB) is an advisory NDPB. The DSAB has no operating budget. The DSAB's main purpose is to advise my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary whether premature retirement or termination of an appointment on grounds of failed probation, or dismissal on any grounds is fair. The board's function is to satisfy itself that management has acted responsibly and fairly. The chair is Philippa Drew. The role of chairman is unpaid. All members get a daily fee of £360, plus travel and subsistence costs, for work undertaken on behalf of the board. The board meets infrequently, at most once or twice a year.
	 The British Association for Central and Eastern Europe (BACEE)
	The British Association for Central and Eastern Europe (BACEE). The budget from the FCO is £100,000 for this financial year, however this will be the last year the BACEE will receive Government funding. BACEE exists to promote a closer understanding between the British people and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and to support them in developing democratic systems and civil society. Their main activity is organising seminars and study visits. These have covered parliamentary elections, the judicial system, the media, anti-corruption, banking, local government, and penal reform. The chairman is my noble Friend the right hon. Lord Radice. The role of chairman is unpaid, but he is entitled to claim travel expenses only, this has never been done.